Rating: 
Summary: Same city, different buildings
Review: King Kong is atop the World Trade Center, swatting down attacking planes as Dwan watches in horror of her ape being turned into Swiss cheese. Everything else is the same plot as the 1933 version. Who would know 22 years later, Godzilla attacked New York ("Godzilla" 1998). Godzilla and Kong have met before in "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (1963). Only if Kong had returned in 2001, again swatting down planes 25 years later. There were planes attacking, there were the towers but no King Kong there to swat them down.
Rating: 
Summary: a movie at its worst
Review: this is 1 of the worst movies ever made i urge u if u have taste dont buy this buy the 1933 origanal in video this version is not only bad its insulting to any true kong fan and as a film stutent i can honestly say i could have made a better film the kong looks better in the original the acting is better the effects may not be as good in the 1933 version but the stop motion is amazing people still cant belive thats a puppet if you want fun exitment and drama watch the origanal if you want to waste a couple of hours of your life and your money watch this
Rating: 
Summary: A Crowning Achievement!!
Review: Undeniably, Dino De Laurentiis' 1976 version of "King Kong" is not only the greatest example of a motion picture retelling being better and even SUPERIOR to the original, but also the greatest example of a motion picture retelling being unjustly criticized and bashed when being compared to an original film work. Certainly the original 1933 version of "King Kong" is a motion picture classic, but it does have its flaws, and fails miserably when being compared to its 1976 counterpart. Reason #1 - The Acting: All the acting in the original version is really only mediocre at best. Even the jobs done by the leading cast members were not enough to allow the viewer to be pulled into the movie and bond with the characters on an emotional level. In the 1976 version, however, all the actors hit the mark dead on with their portrayals of the film's characters. Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange were not only very believable in their roles as Jack and Dwan, but the chemistry between the two of them seemed to be so real and heartfelt that the viewer can't help getting sucked into the middle of their relationship and ultimately end up caring about them as though their characters were real people. And Charles Grodin does an outstanding job portraying the greedy oil tycoon/exhibitionist/semi-antagonist, Fred Wilson. Reason #2 - The Treatment of Kong as a Character: In the original version, Kong is portrayed as being more or less just a "monster", a mindless, destructive brute with little or no thinking ability or emotional substance in him whatsoever. You really don't even care about him while watching the film until the last few minutes roll by where he is seen being attacked by fighter planes while atop the Empire State building. This is simply not the case in the 1976 version, where the viewer is filled with not only a sense of deep respect for Kong, but also, and more importantly, a sense of overwhelming compassion for him as well. These two senses continue to swell up inside the viewer to the point where, when the film finally does reach its soul-shattering conclusion, one can't help but shed tears upon hearing the final heartbeat of our sadly misunderstood and, at this point, fallen King. I'd also like to note that in the original, Fay Wray, in her portrayal of Anne, was never anything more than a pretentious, self-centered, airhead who never cared anything for Kong or felt any remorse whatsoever for being the cause of his downfall. In the 1976 retelling, however, Jessica Lange, in the role of Dwan, does an excellent job of allowing herself to be able to build an emotional bond with Kong, partly out of fear, but more importantly out of respect, love and compassion for her almighty protector. At the end of the film, just before the bloody assault on Kong by the fighter helicopters takes place, she begs and pleads, and even tries to hang onto his massive arm as he sets her down on top of the World Trade Center out of harm's way, with Kong to pick her back up so the choppers won't open fire on him. And what did Anne do in the original version to try to save Kong from an obvious, impending death? Nothing. She simply sat there on top of the Empire State building watching her giant guardian being shot to death, with her own safety being her only concern. Some great heroine, huh? Reason #3 - The Music: Max Steiner's score for the original version, while not bad, doesn't even compare with John Barry's evocative and overwhelmingly emotional score composed for the retelling. John Barry's "Love Theme" for the 1976 version is a particularly outstanding musical piece which, itself alone, is more moving than any piece Steiner wrote for the original. Reason #4 - The Special Effects: On this point, both films are pretty much even. The stop motion animation process employed by Willis O'brien for the original version was, by that time's standards, very ingeniously devised and carried out. However, I generally feel that the use of "suitmation", made popular in the Japanese genre of sci-fi/fantasy films, allows film monsters to be able to appear more life-like and realistic in their movements and actions. Although the 40 foot mechanical Kong seen briefly toward the conclusion of the 1976 version does look somewhat phony in appearance and movement, one has to admit that the task of building the thing, in itself, was quite an amazing accomplishment. The gorilla suit used throughout the majority of the film, both designed and worn by Rick Baker, is extremely realistic and convincing in appearance and is much more impressive than most critics and movie-goers credit it as being. Please, if you're reading this review and are a fan of the original version of "King Kong", that's fine. However, I implore you to atleast give the 1976 version a viewing, if you haven't already, and to try and look past all the negative press and comments it has so undeservedly received, and come to see, and appreciate, the film for being the motion picture masterpiece that it is. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: King Kong Review
Review: I think you should buy King Kong because they followed the first movie almost word for word. The only thing that is different is that Kong climbs the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center instead of the Empire State Building.
Rating:
Summary: The most underrated remake of a giant gorilla movie ever!
Review: I saw this when I was 9 years old at the movie theatre and have loved it ever since. Sure the original is a classic, but this Kong (ape, not movie)has so much more feeling than the stop motion puppet from the 30's. Sure the original had dinosaurs running wild, and this just had a big snake, but I'll always enjoy watching Kong walk thru New York and up the World Trade Center. And Jessica Lange looks wonderful in this movie!
Rating:
Summary: BURN THIS MOVIE!!
Review: Zero stars actually! I won't waste much effort and space on detailing all the reasons why this movie should be destroyed but I must say it is an INSULT to the original. When this movie came out I was a kid and I remember wanting to like it, even to the point of defending it. After several years I saw it again and had to admit what even as a kid I had known deep down inside; this is a truly awful film. Rick Baker's ape suit is pretty good given the technology of the day. Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin are all fine actors but in each case this film is the stain on their resume. Many of the customer reviews here say "don't listen to the critics." Well, don't listen to those people! The critics in this case are right. There is good reason for any true lover of the original to revile this mess of a movie. I say burn it and let's pretend it never existed.
Rating: 
Summary: Power to the People!
Review: I just wanted to put in my own comment about professional critics. Don't listen to 'em, especially with a movie like this one... they're under oath to be bad to it. It's a great movie, one which will never be liked by snippy dripping nosed types like them. Pity, they're missing Jessica Lange.
Rating:
Summary: Underrated 1970's Remake of 1930's Classic
Review: 1976's "King Kong" may not have the panache and legend assigned to the 1933 original, but it does have its share of moments. If a remake can be satirical, outrageous, and just plain different, then this one takes the cake. One recent criticism, but not in its time, was the unrealistic gorilla suit of Rick Baker's design. It may not be on par with the remake of "Planet of the Apes" (also by Baker), but just watch the Japanese movie "King Kong Vs. Godzilla" to see how GOOD Baker's design really is.
It is an interesting 70's time capsule, with Lange's Marilyn Monroe-esque acting, Jeff Bridge's hippie hair-do and "Greenpeace" attitude, and Charles Grodin's oil-obsessed hysteria. Remember the gas lines of the mid-70's? This movie will remind you.
Some of the special effects are dated by today's terms, but that's okay. Enjoy the 1976 version of "King Kong" on its own merits: just inoffensive good fun. After all, where else can you see King Kong blow the wet Jessica Lange dry? With puffy cheeks, no less?
Rating:
Summary: A Loyal King Kong Fan from the Island of Puerto Rico
Review: In five short words, "THIS FILM IS A MASTERPIECE". Do not listen to the critics. This film was a work of art as far as modern film technology was in the 70's. I remember my mother & father taking my sister and I to the movies to see this. The movie theatre was packed for weeks and people often stood in line for hours to see this. If it were re-released, I'd go see it again. Yes, it is sad that it was filmed at the WTC that is no longer there and many lives were lost. Watching the movie and seeing the WTC scenes affected me emotionally too but lets not beat up the film makers.
Rating:
Summary: the only movie that gives the World Trade Center an identity
Review: I first saw this in 1979 when it was shown on network television, it must have had high ratings, because NBC showed it every year til about 1984 numerous times throughout, John Barry's score scared the hell out of me as a kid, it was so suspensful that you always had a bad feeling about what would happen next, this film was a remake, but it had what many films today don't have.. suspense in a far away land (uncharted island), who could ever forget that cloud mist that hid the island, that feeling that if somthing went wrong, help would not come from anywhere, that feeling of helplessness when Jeff Bridges' fellow hunters are killed by Kong in an unusual way, that feeling of sorrow for Jessica Lange's Dwan when she is taken by Kong, then taunted by him in a place where she is alone & scared & help nowhere in sight, that scene where Jeff Bridges finally rescues her and the two end up running for dear life in a jungle of epic proportions, Charles Grodin (looking somewhat younger than his later films)gives a sleazy potrayal of a greedy oil man who will do just about anything to scoop his competition, Jessica Lange really shines here as Dwan, she is also sexy & her Bridges have a unique chemistry, this film may be hated by critics, but one can't argue that it made the careers of Bridges, Lange & Grodin, who knows where their careers would have went without this, The World Trade Center is seen here at the end,they were new at time, but in light of recent events, i doubt this film will be forgotten when the Twin Towers are discussed, after all I can't think of another film featuring the World Trade Center like this one does.
| 
